Debates of March 20th, 1995

Petitioners

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition calls on Parliament to request that the government disallow the defence of extreme intoxication as used in the Daviault case and amend the Criminal Code accordingly.

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, on behalf of 27 Albertans, I am honoured to present a petition organized by Rose Hornsberger, one of my constituents.

These petitioners request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

Not only am I pleased to present this petition but to endorse it as well.

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(1), it is my pleasure to present a petition with 269 names from petitioners in the Kitchener-Waterloo area on behalf of my colleague from Kitchener.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker. I have several petitions to table today. I understand there are several petitions being presented that equal approximately 64,000 names dealing with the Young Offenders Act and changes to toughen it up. This petition bears 73 signatures from people in my riding and nearby.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, I also have two petitions bearing 115 names. The petitioners pray that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and to uphold the Supreme Court of Canada's decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide, euthanasia.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have four petitions bearing 423 names. The petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition on sexual orientation which I do not concur with but I will present and table.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to adopt all necessary measures to recognize the full equality of same sex relationships in federal law. It bears 39 names.

Madam Speaker, I have another petition on sexual orientation bearing 62 names. The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, this petition is on gun control and bears 119 names. The petitioners support the laws which severely punish all violent criminals who use weapons in the commission of crime and support new Criminal Code firearms control provisions which recognize and protect the right of law-abiding citizens.

Madam Speaker, may I continue?

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Perhaps somebody else should be given a chance. If we have time, I will come back to you.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

One of the petitions contains signatures collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly. It draws the attention of the House to the following: That incidents of child poverty are becoming more and more frequent; that each incident of child poverty harms the public; that there would be fewer such incidents if certain legislative measures were taken. Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation to help alleviate child poverty by ensuring that child support orders are enforced and by removing the income taxes on those child support payments received by the custodial parent.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition is signed by 30 people and deals with the CRTC. It calls on Parliament to request the CRTC to review and hold hearings on cable industry regulations in order to protect the interests of the Canadian public from unfair marketing practices such as negative option billing in so far as tied selling is a reviewable practice under the Competition Act.

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present to the House today. The first calls upon Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provides for the inclusion of the phrase "sexual orientation".

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Madam Speaker, the second petition asks that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. One is a petition of 25 names from B.C. asking Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination.

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Madam Speaker, the other is a petition of a few hundred names asking Parliament to reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes and implement a taxpayer protection act to limit federal spending.

[Peter Thalheimer, Liberal, Timmins—Chapleau, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition in which some constituents are asking that Parliament punish violent offenders who use a firearm in the commission of a crime, and to protect the rights of responsible gun owners and improve gun control legislation to make it more effective and efficient.

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Middlesex, ON]

Madam Speaker, as a member of Parliament it is my duty to present a petition which opposes including the phrase "sexual orientation" on various pieces of federal legislation.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

We have a few minutes left. I will return to the member for Calgary Northeast. May I remind members once again that if you are saying you support the petition, it is going into debate. Would you please just state the matter the petitioners wish Parliament to consider.

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, my final petition is on immigration. The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to reduce immigration to the previous average level of one-half of one per cent of the population, or about 150,000 per year, with a basic intake of not less than 50 per cent of the total, composed of carefully selected skilled workers required by the Canadian economy. They request that our refugee acceptance rate be brought into line with the average for other asylum destination countries. This petition bears 42 names.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I would ask that all the questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Madam Speaker, on a point of order, I just want to make it clear that when the request was made for unanimous consent to introduce the back to work legislation and the opposition did not permit that to occur, it was not the Reform members. The Reform members did concur. It was the Bloc and the NDP.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

I would like to seek unanimous consent of the House to return to introduction of private members' bills if I may.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.